Apparatus for mining in frozen ground.



No. 642,047. Patented Jan. 23, 1900. L. E. MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR MINING IN FROZEN GROUND. v

(Application filed May 27, 1899.1

2 Shaets-Sheet VA III \lllllll 1 l I (95 E2 6 e 6 Patented Ian. 23, I900, L. E. MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR MINING IN FROZEN GROUND.

(Application filed May 27, 189 9.).

2 Shear-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

I 3. I I n V w V171II/IIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIIIII[III/I1 Ilrrn STATES PATENT FFICE.

LOUIS E. MILLER, OF DAIVSON, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELLIOT MACHINE AND MINING COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR MINING IN FROZEN GROUND.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent 0. 642,047, dated January 23, 1906.

Application filed May 27,1899. Serial No. 718,549. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

lie it known that I, LOUIS E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dawson, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Mining in Frozen Ground; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, one of which is my preferred form, and my invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a mining shaft and drift, showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention in its application thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a steam-ejector which I employ in connection with the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention; and Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional View of a steam-ejector nozzle which I employ in connection therewith.

In certain parts of North America where mining operations are carried on principally for gold and other precious metals the ground is frozen to a great depth, and it is impossible to mine such frozen ground economically by ordinary methods.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for sinking a vertical shaft to the bed-rock, above which the pay streak or strata containing the precious metals is usually located, and for running drifts laterally from said shaft above the bed-rock and removing the gravel and earth containing the precious metals. I

In carrying out my invention I form a sump or pocket for containing a small pool of Water, and I convey steam from the surface of the ground into the shaft or drift, cause it to act upon the water in the sump or pocket to heat portions of the same to a considerable temperature, and forceit with high speed and 56 force against the frozen ground, thereby melting the frost therein and disintegrating the ground. The solid material is then removed by means of a bucket or other suitable conveyer and conveyed to the surface, While the 5 5 water returns to the sump. I thus establish a circulation of the water within the mine and use the same water over and over again without removing it from the mine, except when the amount of water becomes augmented by 60 the condensation of steam and the melting of the frost in the ground to such an extent as may require a portion of the water to be drawn ofi at suitable intervals to prevent the mine from becoming so full of water as to inconvenience the operators working therein.

In the form of apparatus which I have illustrated in Fig. 1, A represents a vertical shaft which has been sunk through the frozen ground,and A A represent the lateral drifts above the bed-rock B. In Fig. 1 the mine is shown as having been sunk to the bed-rock, and the apparatus hereinafter described is being employed in removing the pay-gravel from the drift, the material being removed by means of a bucket C and Windlass C, as shown in the drawings, or other suitable form of conveyer. The pool of water may be contained in a sump b, blasted out of the bedrock, as shown, or where the bed-rock is in- 8o clined a pocket may be formed in one of the drifts to contain water for carrying out my process, as indicated at b in Fig. 1. D represents a steam generating boiler located above the surface of the ground and provided 8 5 with a steam-supply pipe cl, which extends down into the mine, where it is provided adjacent to its lower end with a cut-off cock at, by means of which the supply of steam can be controlled. E represents an ejector which I employ in this form of apparatus for imparting heat and motion to the water in the pool. This ejector is shown in detail in Fig.

2. E represents the main body of the ejector, which is hollow and preferably substantially 5 spherical in form. It is provided with two opposite threaded apertures e c and with means for admitting water to its interior, consisting in this instance of a series of apertures 6 E represents the steam or jet tube, which is externally threaded and is screwed into the aperture e, so that it can be adjusted longitudinally in said aperture by rotating it, and e is a jam-nut surrounding said steam or jet tube for securing it rigidly in its ad justed position. The tube E is provided with a longitudinal passage, which decreases in size from its outer end to a point adjacent to its inner end, (indicated at (2 from which point the said passage widens abruptly to the inner end of the tube. E represents the discharge-tube of the ejector, which has a portion extending into the hollow bodyE in line with the steam or jet tube E, said portion being externally threaded and screwed into the aperture 6 of the hollow body, as shown. The tube E is provided with a longitudinal passage, which at the inner end of the tube is of considerably greater diameter than that of the jet-tube at its inner end and decreases rapidly in size to a point (indicated at 6 from which said passage increases in diameter to a point 6 adjacent toits outerend and then widens rapidly to the outer end of the discharge-tube, as shown. The outer end of the discharge-tube E is provided externally with threads, as shown at e which are adapted to receive a standard pipe-coupling of the proper size.

When the stream of heated Water is ,designed to be discharged close to the ejector, I provide a discharge-tube with a short nozzle E, as shown in Fig. 2. This nozzle is provided with a screw-coupling ring a by means of which it is attached to the discharge-tube E The nozzle is provided with an internal passage the rear portion of which is of the same diameter as the outlet of the dischargetube E the outer portion of said passage being contracted, as shown at e.

E represents a supporting disk or wheel provided with a central aperture which engages the steam or jet tube E. The object of this disk is to hold the main body of the ejector above the bottom of the sump or pool to prevent gravel and sediment from entering the same and also to incline the nozzle E in a downward direction, so as to cause it to eject the water against the sides of the sump when said nozzle is used. The jet-tube E is connected with the steam-pipe through the valve d by means of a pipe (1 and elbow d In digging a vertical shaft through frozen ground a sump or pocket is formed to contain the amount of water necessary to submerge the ejector E, which is connected with the steam boiler, as heretofore described, and steam is then admitted to the ejector. The steam passing in through the jet-tube E condenses,formingapartial vacuum which draws water into the hollow main body. The Water is heated by contact with the steam, and the heated water is discharged through the discharge-tube E and nozzle E with great force against the sides of the sump or pocket, melting the ice in the frozen ground and disintegrating the soil, which is removed by shovels. By continually manipulating the ejector, so as to direct the heated stream of water against different portions of the sides of the, pockets and removing the soil as fast as it is loosened up, the shaft can be sunk very rapidly to the bed-rock, after which the bedrock will be provided with a sump, as indicated at b, to contain the pool of water, or the water may be allowed to collect at the lowest point of the shaft or a drift thereof, as indicated at Z), if theformation of the bed-rock favors such a plan. In excavating lateral drifts the nozzle E would be removed from the dischargetube E and a length of hose F will be attached by means of an ordinary coupling f, as indicated in Fig. 1, the hose F being provided with a discharge-nozzle f to direct the current of heated water against the sides of the drift.

The jet or steam tube E is capable of adjustment longitudinally toward and from the discharge-tube E asbefore stated, and this adjustment enables the operator to control the speed or velocity of the stream of water and also its temperature. By adjusting the jet-tube closer to the discharge-tube a smaller amount of water will be taken into the dis charge-tube in proportion to the steam used,-

and the water will be delivered in consequence with greater velocity and at ahigher temperature. By adjusting the steam or jet tube outwardly a greater amount of water will be taken in between the jet-tube and the dischargc-tube,with the result that the stream of water discharged will be at a lower temperature and delivered with less velocity. It is important that the operator should be thus enabled to regulate the temperature of the stream discharged, as I find that in using a stream attoo high a temperature a mist or fog is produced in the mine which interferes with the operators, While no fog is produced if the water is not above a certain temperature. It will be understood that the solid material thus softened and disintegrated will be filled into buckets and elevated to the surface of the ground for suitable treatment to remove the precious metal, While the water will return to the sump or pool and is used over and over again, the water giving up its heat in melting the frozen ground and returning cold to the pool. In my process the water is not taken out of the mine ordinarily. Owing to the melting of the ice in the frozen soil and the condensation of the steam it occasionall y becomes necessary to remove a portion of the water from the pool to prevent it from extending over the bottom of the mine. This can be conveniently done by providing the discharge-pipe of the ejector with a hose (not shown) similar to the hose 1* long enough to extend to the top of the mine and blowing out a portion of the water by means of the steam passing through the ejector, or the water may be removed at intervals in any other desired way.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated my preferred form of apparatus, which is adapted particu larly for use in operating in drifts at a considerable distance from the sump or pool. In this drawing, A represents the vertical shaft, A A the horizontal drifts, and B the bedrock, provided with a sump b or a pocket I) to contain the water. C represents the hoisting bucket, and O the Windlass. D represents the boiler, and (Z the steamsupplypipe, leading down into the mine, which pipe will prefer ably be covered with asbestos or other nonconducting covering, as indicated in the drawings. At the bottom of the shaft I provide a steam vacuum-pu mp of any of the well-known types of these devices, in which water is drawn from a supply and forced out by the direct action of a current of steam. In the present instance I have illustrated at G a vacu urn-pump, which is known as the pulsometer, but I may use other forms of steam vacuum-pumps. The construction of these steam vacuum-pit mps being well-known,I will not particularly describe the construction of the same, merely stating that the steam is brought into contact with the water and not only forces it out of the pump, but imparts to it a certain amount of heat from the steam. A pipe g extends from the pump G to the sump or other cavity containing the pool of water, and a hose H is connected with the pump G for delivering the stream of partiallyheated water under the pressure produced by the action of the pump. The outer end of the hose H is provided with an improved ejector-nozzle I. (Illustrated in detail in Fig. 4.) This nozzle comprises the main body I, one end of which is adapted to be engaged by the hose-coupling on the outer end of the hose H, and the other end is provided with a tapering discharge-tube I, the smaller end of which is provided with a smaller tapering tip I having a reduced discharge-aperture z'. I prefer to make this nozzle I in sections in the manner shown in Fig. 4 to facilitate the construction and assembling of the parts. The interior of the main body I is provided with a steam-compartment z", provided with a steam-inlet passage t extending through a threaded nipple i projecting from the casing. partment z" is provided with a threaded aperture in line with the axis of the nozzle, into which is screwed a steam or jet tube 1 which has a longitudinal passage therethrough terminating in a reduced delivery-aperture 2' at some little distance from the discharge-aperture of the nozzle. The nipple z' is connected by a pipe I (see Fig. with the steam-supply pipe d so that live steam under the initial boiler-pressure is admitted into the noz zle and discharged from the jet-tube into the stream of partially-heated water which is being forced through the nozzle by the steam vacuum-pump, and the live steam is thus ad- The com-- mitted to the water immediately before it leaves the nozzle. The Water being already under motion and partially heated by reason of the action of the steam vacuum'pump is discharged from the nozzle in a highly-heated condition and with great force, and thus rap idly melts and disintegrates the frozen earth. The earth is then removed, as before described, and the water returns to the sump or pool to be used over again.

The steam-supply pipe 1, leading to the nozzle 1, is provided with a controlling-valve F, by means of which the operator can control the supply of steam, and thus regulate the temperature of the stream of water discharged to prevent the formation ofa mist or fog within the mine. I also provide the steam-pump G with a hose or pipe II, leading to the surface of the ground, as shown, said pipe being provided with a valve h, andv the pipe H, leading to the nozzle I, is also provided with a similar valve 7t. By closing the valve 7?. and opening valve h the surplus water in the sump or pool can be forced out of the mine at intervals when necessary.

The process of mining in frozen ground which is disclosed herein is not specifically claimed, as said process forms the subjectmatter of an application filed by me August 7, 1899, Serial No. 726,445, which is a division of this application.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for mining in frozen ground, the combination with a receptacle for holding a pool of Water at the bottom of the mine, an ejector located at the bottom of the mine, means for supplying the water in said receptacle to said ejector, means for conveying steam to said ejector and introducing it into the water to heat the water and expel it in a stream forcibly against the frozen material and means for conveying the water back to said receptacle whereby a circulation of the water is established within the mine and the raising of the water continuously to the surface of the ground is obviated, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for mining in frozen ground, the combination with a receptacle at the bottom of the mine for holding a pool of water, of a steam-ejector located at the bottom of the mine, a steam-generator located above the surface of the ground, means for conveying steam from said generator to the ejector, means for forcing a column of water from said receptacle through the ejector in contact with the steam, means for regulating the admission of steam to said ejector to control the temperature and velocity of the Water and means for conveying the water back to said receptacle, whereby a circulation of the water is established Within the mine and the raising of the water continuously to the surface of the ground is obviated, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for mining in frozen ground the combination with a receptacle located at the bottom of the mine for containing a pool of water, an ejector located at the bottom of the mine, a pump, connected With said receptacle and with said ejector, a steampipe connected with said ejector for imparting heat and velocity to the Water adjacent to the point of its discharge and means for conducting the water back to said receptacle, whereby a circulation of the Water within the mine is established and the raising of the Water continuously to the surface of the ground is obviated, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for mining in frozen ground, the combination with a steam vacuum-pump located at the bottom of the mine for partially heating and forcing a stream of water, a Water-supply located at the bottom of the mine connected with said steam-pump, a steam-supply for said pump, a nozzle connected with said pump and provided with a steam-jet tube Within the same and a connection between the steam-supply and said steamjet tube for imparting heat and velocity to the stream of Water at a point adjacent to its discharge from the nozzle, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for mining in frozen ground, the combination with a steam vacuum-pump located at the bottom of the mine for partially heating and forcing a stream of Water, a Water-supply located at the bottom of the mine connected with said steam-pump, a steam-supply for said pump, a nozzle connected with said pump and provided with a steam-jet tube within the same, a steam-pipe leading from the steam-supply to the said jettube and a controlling-valve for controlling the supply of steam to said jet-tube to regulate the temperature and velocity of the stream discharged by the nozzle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of tWo witnesses.

LOUIS E. MILLER. Witnesses:

C. M. BAIR, L. P. WHITAKER. 

